Abstract
This review summarizes the leading advancements in porous silicon (PSi) optical-biosensors, achieved over the past five years. The cost-effective fabrication process, the high internal surface area, the tunable pore size, and the photonic properties made the PSi an appealing transducing substrate for biosensing purposes, with applications in different research fields. Different optical PSi biosensors are reviewed and classified into four classes, based on the different biorecognition elements immobilized on the surface of the transducing material. The PL signal modulation and the effective refractive index changes of the porous matrix are the main optical transduction mechanisms discussed herein. The approaches that are commonly employed to chemically stabilize and functionalize the PSi surface are described.
Highlights
IntroductionThe term “biosensor” refers to an analytical and powerful tool made up of a bioreceptor (i.e., a biological recognition element) connected to a transducing substrate [1,2,3]
The term “biosensor” refers to an analytical and powerful tool made up of a bioreceptor connected to a transducing substrate [1,2,3]
This review focuses on advances on the development of porous silicon (PSi)-based optical biosensors achieved over the past five years
Summary
The term “biosensor” refers to an analytical and powerful tool made up of a bioreceptor (i.e., a biological recognition element) connected to a transducing substrate [1,2,3]. Among the many available nanomaterials (e.g., quantum dots (QDs), metallic nanoparticles, carbon nanotube), porous silicon (PSi) has outstanding windows for applications in several research fields, from biosensing to drug delivery, thanks to its well-known optical and physical features [11,12,13] It was accidentally discovered in 1956 by Uhlirs during an electrochemical experiment [14], this material received due attention only in 1990, when Canham discovered its intrinsic photoluminescence (PL) at room temperature [15]. PSi is commonly obtained via electrochemical etching, a fabrication strategy that does not require expensive equipment, and allows a good reproducibility of the fabricated PSi substrates This technique enables a fine control on the pore size and on the optical response of the material [25,26].
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